
REPORT 



HON. DAVID L. SWAIN, LL.D.. 



HISTORICAL AGENCY 



FOR PROCUKlNfi 



DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE OF THE HISTORY OF 
NORTH-CAROLINA. 



RALEIGH: 

HOLDEN & WILSON, PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 

1857. 



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REPORT 



HON. DAVID L. SWAIN, LL.D., 



HISTORICAL AGENCY 




y^ FOR PROCURING 



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DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE OF THE HISTORY OF 

NORTH-CAROLINA. 

I, 



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RALEIGH: 
HOLDEN & WILSON, PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 

1857. 



HISTORICAL AGENCY. 



The joint select committee, to whom was referred the mes- 
sage of the Governor, with the accompanying papers from 
the Historical Agent of the State, have had the same under 
consideration, and respectfully report : 

That the message of the Governor presents to the General 
Assembly the report of the historical agent of the State, and 
recommends a contintiance of the agency. 

That the report of the agent consists of a series of letters 
either written by or addressed to the agent, in the discharge 
of the duties of his office, rei)ortiiig the progress made in the 
collection of material, and assigns satisfactory reasons for the' 
delay on the part of the agent in the prosecution of the ex- 
tended search for documentary history contemplated by the 
Legislature. And, to the end that the fullest information may 
be given, that a memorial be made of the patriotic efforts on 
the part of the State authorities to garner up all that is valu- 
able in the past history of the State, the committee do recom- 
mend the printing of the report entire, not exceeding 300 
copies, to be distributed by order of the Genei-al Assembly. 

And, furthermore, to cany out the praiseworthy purposes 
of the Legislature, that created the agency, and 'that the 
scattered and broken links of our colonial history may be 
collected and placed in the hands of the future historian, and 
"our story be told with truth," the committee do recommend 
the adoption of the accompanying resolution, providing for 
the continuance of the agencj' : 

' Resolved^ That the agent ajipointed under the resolution of 
the last General Assembly, to procure documentary evidence 
in relation to the History of North-Carolina, may, in case lie 
shall deem it necessary to do so, examine the public archives, 
and other sources of information of our sister States, as well 



as the iiiotlier conntrj, upon the conditions set forth in tlie 
said resolution, and report proceedings to the General Assem- 
h!y at as early a period as may admit of the proper perform- 
ance of the duties assigned to him. 

PAUL C. CAMERON, Chairman. 



To the HonorahU the General Assemhly 

of tJie State of North- Carolina : 

I transmit herewith a report from the Hon. David L. Swain, 
agent to procure documentary evidence of the history of the 
State. 

The report will explain to you very fully what has been 
done, what it was the object of the agent to accomplish, and 
the circumstances w'hich prevented his collecting any liistori- 
cal materials from abroad. 

The copy of " Tryon's Letter Book " has been deposited in 
the Executive office, where it may be seen, and is subject to 
your disposition. 

By the terms of the resolution of the General Assembly, 
hy virtue of which an agent was appointed, such agency 
ceases at this session of your honorable body. 

I respectfully recommend the passage of a resolution, au- 
thorizing the continuance of the agency, with authority to 
the agent to examine the public archives, and other sources 
of information of our sister States, as well as those of the 
mother country. 

THOMAS BRAGG. 



REPORT. 



Chapel Hill, Decern. 1, 1856. 

Sir: — In my letter of the 20th November, 1855, I advised 
your Excellency of the course I had pursued, and the progress 
I had made under the resolutions ot the last General Assem- 
bly, au^horizhig you to appoint an agent to obtain from the 
proper offices in London documentary evidence in relation to 
the history of the State, and from Harvard University a copy 
of Governor Tryon's Letter Book, 

I had the pleasure, a few weeks thereafter, to receive a copy 
of the Letter Book, prepared with extraordinary neatness and 
accuracy, under the supervision of Jared Sparks, LL.D., by 
the late James W. Harris, Esq., of Cambridge. Mr. Harris's 
receipt for the stipulated compensation for services so faith- 
fully rendered, amounting to $108, is enclosed. This sum, 
with the addition of one per cent, premium on the check re- 
mitted, may be deposited to my credit in the Bank of tlie 
State. The Letter Book is also sent herewith. 

Since the receipt of 3"our letter of the 15th May, 1855, re- 
questing my attention to this subject, no opportunity has been 
neglected to obtain all the information in my power in rela- 
tion to documentary evidence of our history at home or 
abroad. I have taken great pains to ascertain the sources 
whence materials may be drawn, and the extent to which 
they exist in this and other States, in order to satisfy myself 
whether it is necessary to extend researches to the mother 
country, and to prepare myself in this event for the intelligent 
performance of the trust committed to me. 

I suppose there are few important papers in North-Caro- 
lina which reflect light upon the Colonial P^ra, which are not 
in my possession, or at my command. 

To the kind attention of Tristam L. Skinner, Esq., of Eden- 



6 

ton, I am indebted tor permission, obtained b}- him from the 
Countv Court of Chowan, to transmit to me four folios, con- 
taining all the records of the General Court and Court of 
Chancery of JSTorth-Carolina, from 101)7 to 1730, and to James 
E. Norlleet, Esq., of Edenton, for two volumes custom house 
records of Port Roanoke, from 1725 to 1743. The judicial 
records are not merely of great but indispensable importance 
to the historian. I have given a receipt for them to the Clerk 
of Chowan court, and have stipulated to return them in rea- 
sonable time. I trust, howevei', that you will be able, through 
the intervention of the General Assembly, to secure perma- 
nent possession of them for the State. 

The librality of Thomas P. Devereux, Esq., has enriched 
the Archives of the Historical Society ot the Universit}' with 
a neat and accurate copy of all the portions of the Letter 
Book of his ancestors, Thomas and Cullen Pollock, which pos- 
sess historical value. 

Thou as Pollock was, as you are aware, Deputy to one of the 
Lords Proprietors of Carolina, during a period of thirty years, 
and was at one time at the head of the government, as Presi- 
dent of the Council. In the latter character he assumed the 
reins of government, on the demise of Governor Hyde in 
1712, and dischai-ged the duties of the executive department 
^vith eminent prudence and discretion, in the midst of some 
of the most dangerous emergencies in our history. He was a 
member of the council, and sustained the legitimate authority 
of Governor Glover during the entire pej'iod of Cary's rebel- 
lion, and his correspondence exhibits no inconsiderable por- 
tion of all the information accessible at present in relation to 
a civil commotion, which, in its consequences, threatened, 
and too nearly produced, the extinction of the colony. 

Yirsrinia and South-Carolina have laid the best possible 
foundation for the construction of their history in the publi- 
cation of their statutes at large, with illustrative documents, 
notes, and references. Both of these collections, but espe- 
cially the former, the earlier and better work, are deeply in- 
teresting in connection with our histor}', and serve to show 



the importance of similar attention on our part to forgotten 
and neglected records. 

The trustees of the State Library, (the Governor and Judges 
of the Supreme Court) have recently made a judicious begin- 
uiug, which it is to be hoped will, in due time, result in the 
accomplishment of a like enterprise, on the part of North- 
Carolina. 

In 1715, the General Assembly revised and re-enacted the 
whole body of statute law then in force. There was no 
printing office in the Province, and twelve manuscript copies 
were prepared, and one deposited in the clerk's office of each 
Precinct Court. 

The existence of this revisal was unknown during a long 
series of years, until about a quarter of a century ago, when 
two mutilated and moth-eaten copies were discovered in the 
office of the Secretary of State. Two or three years since, a 
third imperfect copy was presented to the Rev. Dr. Hawks, 
by William B. Rodman, Esq., of Washington. A successful 
effort is in progress, to secure, by a collation of the three de- 
fective manuscripts, a perfect copy of our earliest revisal ; 
and the work admirably executed by the Rev. Dr. Wheat, of 
the University, wall soon be ready for the State Library. 

It is, perhaps, unnecessary to enter into further details with 
respect to domestic sources of historical information. I ven- 
ture to intimate, nevertheless, the confident opinion, that very 
interesting materials will reward proper research in the pub- 
lic offices of Virginia, and the archives of the Historical So- 
cieties of South-Carolina and Georgia. 

In relation to documentary evidence abroad, I deem it 
merely necessary to direct your attention to the accompany- 
ing correspondence, which may be examined in the numeri- 
cal order in which it is presented, and wliich will sufficiently 
explain itself. 

You will perceive that owing to diplomatic difficulties be- 
tween this country and England, and occurrences which for 
a time prevented cordial intercourse between Mr. Crampton 
and the American Secretary of State, I was subjected to una- 
voidable embarrassment and delay in the prosecution of my 



8 

designs. In relation to this matter, I am under great obliga- 
tions to my friend Mr. Dobbin, the Secretary of the Navy, 
who, though oppressed by official duties, rendered more ar- 
duous and onerous by delicate health, co-operated most cordi- 
ally and effectually, in my attempts to accomplish the purpo- 
ses of the General Assembly. 

My agency, as you are aware, expires by the limitation im- 
posed by the resolution under which I have been acting, with 
the present General Assembly. If further services of a simi- 
lar character shall be desired — and of the necessity for fur- 
ther research, my former and present communication will af- 
ford the means of arriving at a satisfactory conclusion — the 
General Assembly will of course allow further time, and au- 
thorize proper research in the archives ol our sister States, 
as well as the mother country. 

I have the honor to be, 

With high consideration, 

Your obedient servant, 

D. L. SWAIN. 

To his Excellency, Thomas Bkagg. 



[l. HON. JAMES C. DOBBIN TO D. L. SWAIN.] 

Washington, December 4th, 1855. 

Dear Sir: I snatch a moment from the political bustle 
agitating the federal metropolis, to perform simply a courteous 
duty of acknowledging the receipt of your truly interesting 
and patriotic letter. I intend to avail myself of the first op- 
portunity, and endeavor to help you in the laudable enter- 
prise in which you are engaged. 

Just at this 2)articular time it may not be decorous to open 
the subject to Mr. Crampton. We are personally on very 
good terms indeed, and I know he is quite accommodating. 



Be assured the subject shall not escape mj attention and 
active co-operation. 

Accept assurances of the high respect 
Of your friend and obedient servant, 

J. C. DOBBIN. 



[ll. — SAME TO SAME.] 

Washington, February 20, 1856. 

My Dear Sir : You are right in your conjectures, that at 
present our relations with Mr. Crampton forbid my asking 
any favor of him. It is to be regretted — but his conduct was 
inconsiderate and improper. I enclose you a letter of intro- 
duction to Mr. Dallas, Whenever you address him, enclose 
it, and I have no doubt he will cheerfully do what he can. 

Our relations with England are not pleasant just now. 
Her construction of the treaty of 1850 is singularly erroneous. 
She has unquestionably violated it. Her recruitment of sol- 
diers in our terrritory was equally wrong, and offensive to our 
pride. She might venture that^ in a little German principal- 
ity — but not in a country claiming to be her equal. She di- 
rected Mr. C. to be particular and not violate our law, but to 
get soldiers. Her apology is, " I am so7'ry if your feelings 
are hurt'''' — '■^hui Cramjjton did nothing wrong, and we find 
no fault with himP I hope it may all he settled. We donH 
want war — vje are for peace — but honor. 

Your friend, 

J. 0, DOBBIN. 



[m. — D, L. SWAIN TO HON. GEOEGE M. DALLAS,] 

Chapel Hill, 1st March, 1856. 
Sir: The enclosed note from the Hon, James C. Dobbin, 
explains the reasons which render it proper and necessary for 



10 

me to address you upon tlie present occasion. The accom- 
panyino; volume, entitled "Indexes to Documents relative to 
North-Carolina during the Colonial existence of the State," 
will serve the purpose of explaining more fully and clearly, 
the objects I have in view, and the nature of the duties which, 
at the instance of Governor Bragg, acting under the author- 
ity of resolutions of our last General Assembly, I have under- 
taken to perform. 

The volume referred to, a manuscript copy of which was 
deposited by Mr. Gallatin in the ofiice of the American Le- 
gation, in London, in 1827, shows that in the office of the 
Board of Trade and in the State-Paper Office, many docu- 
ments and records of great value, in connection with the his- 
tory of North-Carolina, are on file, and that permission for 
such agent as the State might designate for the purpose, was 
most courteously given, to take copies of all or any portion, 
that might be desired. I wish to obtain through you, a re- 
newal of the courtesy and liberality. 

Carolina was, as you are aware, originally a Proprietary 
Government. The first charter was dated 24th March, 1663 ; 
the second on the 30th of June, 1665. These charters grant- 
ed to the Earl of Clarendon, the Duke of Albemarle, Lord 
Craven, Lord Berkley, Lord Ashley, Sir George Carteret, 
Sir William Berkley and Sir John Colleton, all the lands be- 
tween the southern boundary of Virginia (36° 30') on the 
north, and the 29th parallel of latitude on the south, and 
fro)n the Atlantic on the east to the Pacific ocean on the west. 

The Proprietary Government existed from 1663 to 1729, (a 
pei'iod of sixty -six years,) wlien all the Proprietors relinquished 
the sovereignty, and all of them, with the exception of Lord 
Granville, surrendered the title to the soil to the crown. He 
retained the riglit of soil, and in 1714: his eighth part was 
conveyed to liim in severalty, by metes and bounds. It em- 
braced the area between the southern boundary of Virginia, 
and a line parallel with it, at the distance of about 66 miles 
south, and extendino; from the Atlantic on the east to the Pa- 
cific on the west. This title Lord Granville retained until tlie 
American revolution, and in the early years of the present 



11 

century attempted to maintain it before tlie Circnit Court of 
the United States, at Raleigh, on the ground that the change 
of government worked neither forfeiture nor escheat of his 
lands. The suit was ultimately removed, by writ of error, to 
the Supreme Court of the United States, where it abated, by 
the death of the Earl during the late war with Great Britain. 

From the beginning of the royal government, in 1729, until 
the opening scenes of the revolution, in 177-i, these indexes 
show that ample materials for the elucidation of our history 
are to be found in the public offices in London. The obscure 
periods about which comparatively little is known, are from 
1663 to 1729, embracing the existence of the Proprietary 
Government — and the early years of the revolutionary war. 

Mr. Gallatin supposed, apparently wnth good reason, that 
much information in relation to the former period might be 
obtained by the examination of unarranged files in the office 
of the Board of Trade, of records entitled " Proprieties and 
Carolina." See his letter to Governor Burton and the accom- 
panying communications from the Secretary of the Board of 
Trade, and Lord Dudley, Principal Secretary of State for 
Foreign Affairs, pages 3, 4, 5, 6 of the pamphlet referred to. 

I venture to anticipate satisfactory results from such an 
examination, bat to guard against disappointment, desire to 
make proper arrangements for the further prosecution of my 
researches, if it shall be found necessary. 

Chalmers, in the composition of his Political Annals, seems 
to have had many papers at his command, in relation to our 
early history, to which no subsequent writers have had access. 
Williamson (Hist. N. C, vol. 1, p. 9, pref) states that he 
applied to Chalmers for permission to take copies from his 
collections, which was discourteously refused. 

Grahame (Col. Hist. U. S., vol. 1, p. xii) seems to have been 
favored with ready admission to the library of the " distin- 
guished American annalist.'" He adds little, however, to our 
previous stock of information about the Proprietary Govern- 
ment. I suppose, therefore, that the papers must have passed 
from the hands of the Secretary before the sojourn of Gra- 
hame in London, and may be found among the unarranged 



12 

records referred to by Mr. Gallatin, or that they were restored 
to the Lord's Proprietors, who held the ofiice of Palatine, at 
the successive periods to M'hich they relate. If the latter 
supposition shall prove to be w^ell founded I presume that the 
lieads of these noble houses will receive with favor an appli- 
cation through the Amei'ican Legation for copies of such 
papers as may serve to illustrate their own history, as well as 
the annals of Carolina. Mr. Bancroft promised me, some 
time since, to enter into a correspondence with Lord Shafts- 
bury, upon this subject, but I have not yet been advised of 
the receipt of any communication from the latter. 

In relation to our revolutionary history, I have recently 
been so fortunate as to obtain a pei-fect copy of the Letter 
Book of Governor Tryon, and the Journals of the Council, 
during the entire period of his administration, from October, 
1764, to June, 1771, containingvery full as well as authentic 
details in relation to the commotion produced by the passage 
of the Stamp Act and the war with the Regulators. The 
original was purchased for Harvard College, in 1845, by Mr. 
Stevens, of a bookseller in London. The recovery of this 
important record suggests the enquiry whether the Letter 
Book of Tryon's successor, Josiah Martin, the last of our royal 
Governors, may not be obtained from some source, and thus 
supply in connection with the Tryon Papers, a continuous 
official narrative of the leading events in the revolutionary 
history of i^ortli-CaroHna. 

There was probably no single loyalist, who, throughout the 
American revolution, rendered such efficient services to the 
mother country, as John Hamilton. At the beginning of the 
war, he was the leading merchant in the province. He com- 
manded a regiment under Lord Cornwallis during the inva- 
sions of 1780 and 1781, and was a gentleman of ability, in- 
telligence and integrity. For many years subsequent to the 
revolution, he was his Brittanic Majesty's Consul at l^orfolk. 
Major Craig, Avho in 1812, was Sir James Henry Craig, 
Governor-General of Canada, took possession of Wilmington, 
early in 1781, preparatory to the second invasion of Lord 
Cornwallis. He maintained his position until the surrender 



13 

of Yorktown rendered his retreat necessary, in the autumn 
of the following year. Governor Burke and suite were his 
prisoners in September, 1781, and the Governor was, under 
his orders, confined for some months, as a prisoner of State. 
The papers of these two gentlemen, if they can be obtained, 
will probably be found to be not less interesting and impor- 
tant, than those of Governors Tryon and Martin. 

I do not wish to go abroad until 1 shall have satisfied my- 
self with respect to the nature and extent of the collections 
that can be made in our own country. My present plan is to 
visit London, not earlier than May, 1857. May I venture to 
ask, in behalf of the State of North-Carolina, that such pre- 
vious enquiries and arrangements may be made, as may com- 
port with your convenience, and enable me to accomplish, as 
nearly as may be practicable, the wise and liberal pui-poses 
contemplated by our General Assembly. 
I have the honor to be, 

With high consideration, 

Your obedient servant, 

D. L. SWAIN. 



[rv. HON. a. M. DALLAS TO HON. J, C. DOBBIN.] 

London, Aug. 18, 1856. 
Jfy Dear Sir: Your letter of the 4tli instant, accompanied 
by another addressed to yourself by Ex-Governor Swain, with 
abound pamphlet of "Indexes to Colonial Documents, N. 
C," reached me yesterday. I will give the purposes of Gov. 
Swain every aid in my power, especially as soon as I feel 
somewhat relieved of the Central American negotiation, which 
is tapering to the signing point. There may be difficulties in 
ascertaining the locus in quo of the displaced records, for the 
best employe' here is reluctant and unreliable in making a 
private search, without assurance of compensation for trouble. 



14 



and of copying, if successful. You shall hear from me again, 
however, at an early day. 

Always faithfully yours, 

G. M. DALLAS. 
Hon. J. C. Dobbin, (fee. 



[v. SAME TO SAME.] 

London, August 22, 1856. 
My Dear Sir: Since writing the enclosed, I have had the 
pleasure to meet Mr. Somerby, an American gentleman well 
known to Gen. Gushing, who was kind enough, at my request, 
to examine the State-Paper Office, and other receptacles of 
records, and whose familiarity with the operation enables him 
to say at once — 

1. That there are many papers readily accessible connected 
with the Colonial history of North-Carolina, not adverted to 
in the volume of Indexes sent by Governor Swain, some at 
dates as early as 1661, and multitudes subsequent to 1775. 

2. That South-Carolina has already obtained abstracts of 
such papers, as, under the general label of " Carolina papers," 
were of dates anterior to the separation, and of these it is 
presumable Governor Swain could easily obtain copies from 
Charleston. 

3. That abstracts of all the papers connected with North- 
Carolina, whether in the State-Paper Office, the British Muse- 
um, or elsewhere, can certainly be had ; but the trouble and 
expense would be great, and unless Gov. Swain prefers coming 
himself, to superintend the proceeding here, Mr. Somerby 
thinks he could secure all sufficient abstracts by directing and 
guiding a copyist, if the sum of £100 were, in advance, placed 
under the control of some one here, to be applied exclusively 
to that object. 

Mr. Somerby is already engaged in pursuing a similar search 
and examination for the State of Maine. He tells me that a 
bill was introduced into Congress, authorising an appropria 



15 



tion of 20,000 dollars, to enable the government to get all the 
colonial documents from the office here, and that Mr. Mason, 
Mr. Clayton and Mr. Pearce were its friends, but he does not 
know its fate. 

Very truly and respectfully yours, 

G. M. DALLAS. 
Hon. J. C. Dobbin, &c. 



[VI. D. L. SWAIN TO UON. J. C. DOBBIN.] 

Chapel Hill, Sept. 10, 1856. 

My Dear Sir: I am greatly obliged, by the receipt of 
your note of the 6th, and the accompanying communications 
from Mr. Dallas of the IStli and 22d ult. I have availed my- 
self of your permission to take copies of the latter, and in 
compliance with your request, I now return the originals. 

The principal object I desired to attain, through the inter- 
vention of Mr. Dallas, was a renewal of the courtesy exhib- 
ited to the State in the correspondence between Mr. Gallatin, 
Mr. Lack and Lord Dudley, in 1827, in the permission to 
take copies of documents in the public offices in London, and 
more especially to ascertain whether a like permission could 
be obtained from Lord Clarendon, and the other representa- 
tives of the original Lords Proprietors of Carolina. Upon 
these subjects I hope to hear from him, when relieved from 
the diplomatic difficulties and labors, which require immedi- 
ate and constant attention. 

In the mean time you will greatly oblige me, by transmit- 
ting this note to him as an acknowledgment of his kindness. 

With a hope that a brief sojourn among your friends in 
Fayetteville may have the effect to enable you to return to 
your duties in improved health and spirits, 
I am very sincerely and truly. 

Your friend and servant, 

D. L. SWAIN. 

Honorable J. C. Dobbin. 



16 



[VII. — J ABED SPARKS LL.D. TO D. L. SWAIN.] 

CAMBRroGE, February 1, 1856. 

My Dear Sir: In regard to tlie first inquiry in your letter 
of December 19, I regret tliat I cannot give you any infor- 
mation concerning the loyalists, Fanning, Hamilton and 
Craig. Kor do I know where yon will be likely to find the 
papers of Governor Martin. If they have been preserved, 
they are doubtless in the hands of some branch of his family 
in England, and may perhaps be brought to light by pursu- 
ing the enqury in that country. 

As to Chalmers, he undoubtedly procured nearly the whole 
of his materials from the archives of the Board ot Trade. 
He was, for a long time, the Secretary of that Board. His 
Papers, after having been bound in volumes, were sold by his 
nephew, a few years ago, at auction, in London. I purchased 
six volumes of them relating mostly to New England. They 
are not important, being memoranda, references and 'extracts 
used in writing his annals. In his chapter on Carolina, I ob- 
serve he refers to volumes of " Carolina Enti-ies," and also to 
" Carolina Papers " These are all probably now in the oflice 
of the Board of Trade, unless they have been removed to the 
State-Paper Office since Chalmers' time. 

I remember seeing volumes entitled " Proprieties." In 
these, will be found papers relating to Carolina, under the 
Proprietary government, as mentioned by Mr. Gallatin. I 
forbear to enlarge on this subject, because I deem it absolute- 
ly essential that you, or some other agent from this country, 
should make a personal research in the public offices in Lon- 
don. I have passed several weeks, at two separate times, in 
those offices, and I am sure that no instructions to any person 
there, however precise, will secure a thorough and complete 
examination. Such an agent should be already somewhat 
familiar with the details of the history of North-Carolina. 

There are two distinct offices containing American colonial 
papers: first, that of the Board of Trade, and secondly, the 
State-Paper Office. The index furnished by Mr. Gallatin, 



IT 

appears to include sucli papers only as are in tlie former ; but 
there are many important papers of a more political charac- 
ter in the State-Paper Office, particularly from the date of 
the Stamp Act downwards. In short, a careful and thorough 
research should be made in both these offices. 

The mode of application must be through the American 
Minister in London, and, with his aid, there will be no diffi- 
culty in procuring access to any of our Colonial papers, and 
permission to have them transcribed. 

I hope you will find it consistent with your other occupa- 
tions to fulfil this important agency yourself. I am persuaded 
you will not regret having performed a service, which, while 
it cannot fail to gratify your own tastes, will be so beneficial 
to the public. 

I have not yet heard from Halifax, and I begin to fear we 
may be disappointed in our expectations from that quarter. 
It is possible that the descendants of the loyalists may feel a 
little delicacy on this point, and not be inclined to promote 
any new developments in the history of the unsuccessful ef- 
forts of their ancestors, although acting in defence of what 
they deemed at the time a loyal and just cause. 

You have probably received before this time the volume of 
Tryon's Letter Book, by the hands of Professor Hedrick. 
Please present my high regards to him, and accept the assu- 
rance of the high respect and esteem of 

Yours, most truly, 

JAKED SPAKKS. 

Hon. D. L. Swain, President, c&c. 



[vm. COL. PETER FOKCE TO HON. J. C. DOBBIN.] 

"Washington, August 22d, 1856. 
Dear Sir : I have read with care and with interest the let- 
ter you have from Gov. Swain. His views cover the whole 
ground, and it will be a proud day for North-Carolina when 
his suggestions are carried into full effect. Every public pa- 
2 



1§ 

per in England that relates to the State shonld be obtained, 
for until that is done the materials for its history will not be 
complete, and this can only be done by the employment of 
an intelligent and faithful agent. 

The only suggestion I have to make, is in regard to the 
agent. He should not only be intelligent and faithful, but he 
should be familiar with the duties that would be required of 
him, and have a general knowledge of all the depositories of 
American papers in all the public offices in London, and as 
far as may be elsewhere. I know of but one person who has 
the ability and pei'severance, united with the necessary ac- 
quaintance with the public offices and officers, to enable him 
to perform the task satisfactorily. The person I allude to is 
Mr. Henry Stevens, an American, who, during several years 
residence in Loudon, has become well known to the gentle- 
men in the various Departments there, and who has furnished 
numerous transcripts of public documents and papers to pub- 
lic institutions and private persons in this country. If Gov. 
Swain could engage his services, I feel assured that what he 
purposes to have done for the State would be well done. 
Yery respectfully, &c., 



PETER FOECE. 



Hon. J. C. Dobbin, Washington. 



[iX. KEV. DK. HAWKS TO D. L. SWAIN.] 

New Toek, Oct. 25, 1856. 

Ml/ Dear Sir : On my return home, after an absence of 
three weeks, I found your letter awaiting my arrival. This 
must be my apology for not replying sooner. I rejoice great- 
ly that our State has moved in the business of securing, while 
yet she may, such portions of our Documentary history, as 
yet remain in England, in the form of MSS. 

I satisfied myself when in London, that there was much in 
the Colonial office, papers of ante-revolutionary times, that we 
ought to have, to make our story complete. But there is also, 



19 

I am persuaded, mucli that is valuable in the hands of the 
descendents of the Lord's Proprietors. On a proper applica- 
tion, I presume it might be obtained. 

I am certain, however, that no agent but one already fa- 
miliar with our history as far as it is known, can do us much 
good ; and therefore, I rejoice that the work is committed to 
your hands. I am deeply interested in your prosecution of 
it to a successful termination. 

In my own humble labors, I feel the need of documentary 
evidence yet in England : not in my first volume, for that 
you know embraces the early attempts at colonization, under 
the auspices of Sir Walter Raleigh only, and 1 think I have 
about all that remains to us on that subject. But in my sec- 
ond and subsequent volumes, I have relied very much on this 
movement of the State, to furnish materials for speaking con- 
fidently and truthfully. I can, indeed, tell the story from 
such sources of information as we have ; but, as an honest 
man, I should be obliged frankly to say, though I have sought 
for truth, I am not sure I have always found it. I pray you, 
therefore, do not relax your efi'orts to get the matter that is 
in England. 

I thank you very much for repeating your kind offer of aid 
in my work. The truth is, I did not mean to put any MS. 
but that of the first vol. to press, without our minute joint 
examination. As to the first, I knew just what material there 
was for it, and that neither you nor I could add to it ; and 
besides, I was anxious, if possible, to lay the beginning of my 
work before the next Legislature, and say : You see w^hat I 
am trying to do for our State — pray help me, by aff'ording me 
unrestricted access to all our archives. 

I hope to see you this winter, and to travel with you over 
a great deal of historic ground, now overgrown with thickets ; 
but I trust we shall be able to cut our way through, and let in 
the sun-light. 

I hope you will not deem it presumptuous in me to say, 
that I think you and I together can make a true history of 
North-Carolina. So far as my opinion is of any value, you 
are free to say, that I consider the thorough examination of 



20 

tlie papers in England, by some one who, like yourself, knows 
all that we now possess of our early history, to be of the very 
first importance to a truthful narrative of the past ; that we 
ought to possess copies of these papers ; and that I earnestly 
hope our countrymen will faciHtate, in every way they can, 
your efibrts to obtain them. 

With very sincere regard. 
Your friend, 

FEAKCIS L. HAWKS. 
To. Hon. D. L. Swain, University N. G. 



